The Professional(1981) May 2026

Ennio Morricone provided the score, featuring the iconic theme "Chi Mai," which became a classic instrumental hit.

Jean-Paul Belmondo, who also co-produced the film and performed many of his own stunts. The Professional(1981)

( Le Professionnel ), released in 1981, is a quintessential French action thriller that solidified Jean-Paul Belmondo's status as a major 1980s action icon. Directed by Georges Lautner, the film is an adaptation of Patrick Alexander's 1976 novel Death of a Thin-Skinned Animal . Production Overview Director: Georges Lautner. Ennio Morricone provided the score, featuring the iconic

Known for its high-octane sequences, including a famous car chase near the Trocadéro in Paris and a Western-style "fast-draw" duel. Directed by Georges Lautner, the film is an

Written by Michel Audiard and Georges Lautner, with contributions from Jacques Audiard and script doctoring by Francis Veber.

The story follows , a French secret agent sent to the fictional African nation of Malagawi to assassinate its dictator, President N'Jala. However, mid-mission, the political climate shifts, and the French government betrays Beaumont by handing him over to the local authorities to avoid diplomatic embarrassment.

The film explores themes of institutional betrayal and the cold reality of realpolitik , where individuals are treated as expendable resources.